World’s largest wind turbine rotor goes online

Siemens Energy recently started testing its 154-meter rotor, the world’s largest for wind turbines. The new rotor will be used for its 6-megawatt wind turbine in Denmark.

The SWT-6.0-154 will have the world’s longest rotor blades, the Siemens news release noted. Each blade will have a length of 75 meters.

Siemens noted the turbines will be able to provide energy to about 6,000 homes.

The new 154-meter rotor for the six-megawatt (MW) offshore wind turbine being installed in Østerild, Denmark. Image Credit: Siemens Energy

The company expects the new 154-meter rotors will be the standard for the offshore wind industry.

In May 2011, Siemens had originally used a prototype of a 6-MW turbine with a 120-meter rotor in Hovsore Denmark’s test location because of concerns due to height restrictions.

Siemens’ gearless technology allows for a compact design, Siemens said. The efficient design and lower weight on the turbines will drop the overall costs and boost overall efficiency.

The key to the new turbine is the B75 blades. Thanks to its patented IntegralBlade, this will allow for best performance at various wind speeds, according to the company.

Comparing turbine blades the IntegralBlade to conventional wind turbine blades, the IntegralBlade is lighter, which will help cut wind energy costs.

“The start of field testing of the 154 m rotor for the 6-MW is an exciting step in the development of competitive technologies for the large offshore wind farms of the future,” said CTO of the Wind Power Division in Siemens Energy Henrik Stiesdal.

“We incorporated our technological expertise gained over more than three decades into the development of both the gearless turbine and its 75-meter rotor blade,” he said.

Meanwhile, the company this past July signed a contract with Danish energy company DONG energy for 300 of the same type of offshore wind turbines.

Siemens also plans to put two more prototypes of its SWT 6.0-MW turbine at Gunfleet Sands, a British offshore wind power plant. Both of the turbines are expect to have the 120-meter rotor.

This story was first published at Cleantechnica. Reproduced with permission.